To those of you who send your young ones off to get broke, how long do you send them for initially? 30 - 60 - 90 days?  Also, what age do you prefer to send them at?

I just sent a 2yo. I don't plan on seeing her until November, and that only if the trainer thinks she would do better with a break. Trusting your trainer has a lot to do with that, and each horse is individual in its needs. This filly does best when handled and trained on many days a week. And my trainer is always about the horse first, not about the money first. 

Depends on the horse and what you want done.

I would send one off in their mid 2 yr old year for 30, maybe 60 days. Depends on the colts maturity level at that age though so each one is unique. I prefer to NOT have anything done but basically track broke. I like to do the rest. I find if they stay longer than 30 days they tend to get too broke for me. There are exceptions though that need 60 to quiet down and ride off fairly safely.

The age I send them off depends. Usually mid 2yo - 3yr old. And they stay for no less than 6 months. Although my guy is pretty good about knowing what will fit me and what won't. So after 90 days he'll tell me if the horse is my style or not, and they'll either stay with him or go up for sale. I'm over riding horses I don't get along with,  and he's known me and all my horses long enough that I trust his opinion. 

mine go as 2's and come back when they are ready to come back. 

Time tables will do more harm than good. 

IMO there is no point in sending a colt our for less than 30 days unless you are 100% capable to continue with the training yourself when they are done. 

Exactly!

For me, it all depends on the horse. Just had 30 days put on a 2 year old colt, I had put on his first rides before that. He came back to just get ridden and see things and grow up, anymore time wouldn't have been great, both the trainer and I decided. His mind could handle it, his body isn't ready for more. The last colt I sent for 45 days, and if it hadn't been going into winter I probably would have left her longer, but winter sucks here. But overall I'm capable of riding colts, so I just send them for the fancy buttons, LOL. Really you need to let the horse tell you. Quite a few of the good trainers have minimums, like the trainer I use has a 60 day minimum, but we're friends and he said my colt wouldn't have benefitted from the extra 30 days at this time, maybe next spring. 

Good point on the time line.

This is my first time ever sending one off, so I love all of the different opinions. I've always done the breaking and riding myself but the doctor says, no more concussions and I'm not willing to get another one! Not this way anyway.

I send mine off at 3 years old and they are there as long as need be for them to be well started.  A broke horse doesn't just happen in 30,60 or 90 days but a good start can.  The guy I have starting them is great, takes excellent care of them (I found this is a huge issue) and I just tell him, IDC how long it takes, just take your time and put it in there correct.

(I also do not futurity or anything and mine don't get started on a pattern till they are 4 or older)